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nix hasn't really moved an inch on the desktop front anyway What a ridiculous thing to say. Millions of people use *nix operating systems on their desktop comp

by unlogic 13y ago

nix hasn't really moved an inch on the desktop front anyway What a ridiculous thing to say. Millions of people use *nix operating systems on their desktop computers every day. This number is significantly higher than a few years ago. When I hear someone complaining about state of GNU/Linux on desktops, they usually mean they can't play gamez. Sometimes they add something about lacking good video drivers (to play gamez). And by your statement you reduce the whole range of possible computer uses to gaming. Maybe we shouldn't confuse "linux in entertainment" with "linux on desktops"? Former is only a subset of the latter. Don't get me wrong, I like playing, and I adore Valve and their games. But for many GNU/Linux users giving up their freedoms may not be worth another brainless AAA title.

balabaster 13y ago
I'll complain about it, I'm not a gamer... Ubuntu won't even suspend/sleep properly under LUKS for crypting out loud!
GrinningFool 13y ago
It has moved on the desktop front - a few inches anyway. I use desktop linux as my primary OS every day. It's still not ready for prime time, but it's finally close enough that I can deal with it. Some fun things that happen to me on a regular basis - you'll note that these issues have nothing to do with "gamez": * my sound stops working and/or diverts to anther output. I still can't get it to detect when I put in a mic or headphones with any reliability. Yes, the hardware is compatible. * behavior on attempted suspend or wake is always a crapshoot. * it shuffles my desktop layout every time I unplug/replug in my two external monitors * memory gradually gets consumed. Even doing a restart of X doesn't fix it. (No, I'm not talking about cache.) Under mac I was rebooting once a month. Under windows it was once a week. On *desktop* linux I do it every 2-3 days just to keep things working. (Server-side linux goes for months.) * sometimes networking stops working. I have to disconnect/reconnect wifi. * invariably, on a daily basis, I find I have to tweak *something* to make it work or keep it working. * Here's a fun one: using vim with clientserver enabled resets my Konsole appearance profile (fonts, colors, transparency) every time I open the editor or remote-open a file with an existing session. Obviously none of these are deal breakers - the positives outweigh the negatives. The control, user interface, tools and projects available, and many other things make the tradeoff worth it to me. But I wouldn't call it a smooth experience, or even an experience on-par with other desktop OSes if we're talking about ability to "just work" without issues. "But for many GNU/Linux users giving up their freedoms may not be worth another brainless AAA title." Neither you, I nor any other users who are intensely interested in freedoms are the target audience for SteamOS. SteamOS won't affect what you and those users and I can use Linux for. And - because I suspect somebody will pipe up with some veiled-snark solutions or suggestions for my issues - you're missing the point. When using a stable desktop OS, I should not have to spend time on these things. I didn't have to on either Mac or Windows.
Havoc 13y ago
>What a ridiculous thing to say. [...] This number is significantly higher than a few years ago. Significantly higher yes...off a low base. We're talking 1..2..3...maybe a (naive)5 percent of progress on total market share over literally decades in the desktop market. Compare that to the androids absolutely crushing the entire mobile market in a few short years. So yes in the bigger scheme of things "nix hasn't really moved an inch on the desktop front". >And by your statement you reduce the whole range of possible computer uses to gaming. You're kidding, right? I focused on gaming, because we are discussing a post about Valve. The effects will extend to every corner of GUI driven nix given that nvidia has already made real world changes based purely on this announcement. The nix world can fight another 10 years of a losing war against an unmotivated nvidia & linux or they can grab something like this by the balls. >gamez Really?
- unlogic 13y ago
  Compare that to the androids absolutely crushing the entire mobile market Why would I compare totally different things? When Android came by, there was no monopoly in the mobile OS market. Every vendor had its own. Also, there are much less legacy applications than on desktops. And mobile OS is substantially easier to catch up with. Prior to smartphone era users had no trouble switching between phone vendors (and subsequently the OSes). Switching to a new a desktop OS is way more difficult step. Better compare it to OS X. Same decades in the market, and still only ~15% share. Yes, more than GNU, but they do their own hardware, and OS is by far not their main selling point. I focused on gaming, because we are discussing a post about Valve Sorry, I shouldn't have jumped on you so quickly. Yes, GNU/Linux seriously lacks in a few more areas besides gaming (namely, professional media editing). But it is still a far stretch to say Linux isn't advancing on the desktops. Jeez, 10 years ago we didn't have a decent office suite. Anyway, what makes you so concerned about Nvidia motivation? My integrated Intel video does an excellent job drawing whatever 2D I throw at it. And it even can do 3D well enough to play some 5yo games (if you consider TF2 one of those).

by unlogic 13y ago

balabaster 13y ago

I'll complain about it, I'm not a gamer... Ubuntu won't even suspend/sleep properly under LUKS for crypting out loud!

GrinningFool 13y ago

It has moved on the desktop front - a few inches anyway. I use desktop linux as my primary OS every day. It's still not ready for prime time, but it's finally close enough that I can deal with it. Some fun things that happen to me on a regular basis - you'll note that these issues have nothing to do with "gamez": * my sound stops working and/or diverts to anther output. I still can't get it to detect when I put in a mic or headphones with any reliability. Yes, the hardware is compatible. * behavior on attempted suspend or wake is always a crapshoot. * it shuffles my desktop layout every time I unplug/replug in my two external monitors * memory gradually gets consumed. Even doing a restart of X doesn't fix it. (No, I'm not talking about cache.) Under mac I was rebooting once a month. Under windows it was once a week. On *desktop* linux I do it every 2-3 days just to keep things working. (Server-side linux goes for months.) * sometimes networking stops working. I have to disconnect/reconnect wifi. * invariably, on a daily basis, I find I have to tweak *something* to make it work or keep it working. * Here's a fun one: using vim with clientserver enabled resets my Konsole appearance profile (fonts, colors, transparency) every time I open the editor or remote-open a file with an existing session. Obviously none of these are deal breakers - the positives outweigh the negatives. The control, user interface, tools and projects available, and many other things make the tradeoff worth it to me. But I wouldn't call it a smooth experience, or even an experience on-par with other desktop OSes if we're talking about ability to "just work" without issues. "But for many GNU/Linux users giving up their freedoms may not be worth another brainless AAA title." Neither you, I nor any other users who are intensely interested in freedoms are the target audience for SteamOS. SteamOS won't affect what you and those users and I can use Linux for. And - because I suspect somebody will pipe up with some veiled-snark solutions or suggestions for my issues - you're missing the point. When using a stable desktop OS, I should not have to spend time on these things. I didn't have to on either Mac or Windows.

Havoc 13y ago

>What a ridiculous thing to say. [...] This number is significantly higher than a few years ago. Significantly higher yes...off a low base. We're talking 1..2..3...maybe a (naive)5 percent of progress on total market share over literally decades in the desktop market. Compare that to the androids absolutely crushing the entire mobile market in a few short years. So yes in the bigger scheme of things "nix hasn't really moved an inch on the desktop front". >And by your statement you reduce the whole range of possible computer uses to gaming. You're kidding, right? I focused on gaming, because we are discussing a post about Valve. The effects will extend to every corner of GUI driven nix given that nvidia has already made real world changes based purely on this announcement. The nix world can fight another 10 years of a losing war against an unmotivated nvidia & linux or they can grab something like this by the balls. >gamez Really?

unlogic 13y ago
Compare that to the androids absolutely crushing the entire mobile market Why would I compare totally different things? When Android came by, there was no monopoly in the mobile OS market. Every vendor had its own. Also, there are much less legacy applications than on desktops. And mobile OS is substantially easier to catch up with. Prior to smartphone era users had no trouble switching between phone vendors (and subsequently the OSes). Switching to a new a desktop OS is way more difficult step. Better compare it to OS X. Same decades in the market, and still only ~15% share. Yes, more than GNU, but they do their own hardware, and OS is by far not their main selling point. I focused on gaming, because we are discussing a post about Valve Sorry, I shouldn't have jumped on you so quickly. Yes, GNU/Linux seriously lacks in a few more areas besides gaming (namely, professional media editing). But it is still a far stretch to say Linux isn't advancing on the desktops. Jeez, 10 years ago we didn't have a decent office suite. Anyway, what makes you so concerned about Nvidia motivation? My integrated Intel video does an excellent job drawing whatever 2D I throw at it. And it even can do 3D well enough to play some 5yo games (if you consider TF2 one of those).